Below is additional interview material from my story on Tigger Clarkson, whose band performs at The Whiskey and The Palm Room this weekend. Originally from Milwaukee, Clarkson spent time in Wilmington while serving in the Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot. He has released two EPs — “The Balance” and “Forget You” — since 2010. Out of the military now, Clarkson and his band are recording a new full length album.

Did you play much in the service or was there not a lot of time?

I wrote a lot of songs and recorded a lot when I was in the service but it’s pretty tough to keep a band together when you’re getting deployed and gone all the time. That was the challenge, to consistently rehearse with a group of guys because I never knew what my schedule was going to be, never knew when I was going to be gone or be back. So I just wrote songs and was recording them between deployments.

Where were you deployed as a helicopter pilot?

My first deployment was to Africa, my second was to Haiti after the earthquake and the third was to Afghanistan. I flew relief supplies to people who were affected by natural disasters. It was a great experience (being a pilot). I learned a lot, not just about just flying, but a bout life in that phase. I learned a lot about growing up and being responsible.

You must have great eyesight.

I guess I’m 20/20. It depends. Its funny you say that because every time I did my flight physical, even if I was a little dehydrated, I’d always not do well. I’d go away and drink Gatorade and come back and be 20/20. It was weird.

Your EP’s bear the influenced of Stevie Ray Vaughn and the sound of albums made in the 70’s.

It’s a really wide variety of influences, so many different things that I like. When I was younger I went through a big Stevie Ray Vaughn phase. I just loved everything he did. Not just because of his guitar applying but his lyrics as well. Bill Withers is a big influence. There are so many amazing talented people out there. I don’t think it’s relegated to any genre, its just I’m drawn to something that I want to figure out why I like it and what makes it good.

You’re filtering influences through you and coming up with your own thing.

I’ll never rush a song. Some come quicker than others. There are songs I started two years that I’m just finishing now because something wasn’t right. You don’t want to be so terribly derivative that what you’re playing someone is going to say you completely ripped off Bill Withers there. I think it’s important to take time with songs because that’s when you get more of your influences to come out.

What do you like to write about more – yourself or what you see around you?

Probably what I see around me. That’s changing too. We’re in the middle of recording a new album right now and I think this album will have a lot more storytelling to it. In the past, for some reason, I always find myself more creative when I access the disappointments in life. I’m really a happy person, but there’s moments in life where you’re unhappy for some reason, have always been more inspirational. I think that’s pretty common.

The studios you’ve chosen, how did you select them?

Full Sail University in Orlando contacted me about coming and performing for their students and then asked if we’d record some songs too. Their facility is state of the art because that’s where they train engineers. You’re talking about a multimillion dollar sound consoles. That’s not to say you’ll get a better or worse album but it’s definitely some neat gear to work with. I’m in the process of putting together my own studio here and my friend I worked with in L.A. has a place in Silverlake.

I think it’s important to have a change of scenery for different songs so you’re not in the same environment. My previous recording experiences on those EP’s was so compressed because I didn’t have time. There were four days of tracking everything and that was it and it was done.

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